Angie's List: Coolant concerns

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- If you own an old air conditioning unit, you may run into some unexpected problems.

Most air conditioning units made before 2010 require the use of a coolant.

The new EPA regulations phase out freon, making it virtually obsolete by 2020. Coolant is harder to come by now and costs about three times as it used to.

If your AC unit needs freon, you may want to consider investing in a new unit that doesn't require coolant.

"If you are faced with a leaking air conditioner, you might really want to consider if you should go ahead and replace it. What many people don't realize that your heating and cooling expensive represent about 50 percent of your energy bills, so if your air conditioner is getting a little on the old side, maybe it's 7, 8, 9 years old, and you've got a repair, you want to make sure repairing it is the best move," said Angie Hicks of Angie's List.

To decide whether your unit is worth repairing, consult with a heating and cooling company and ask them about the developments that are happening with freon and how long you have to use your unit.

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